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I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy
In 2008, Angie Smith and her husband Todd (lead singer of the group Selah) learned through ultrasound that their fourth daughter had conditions making her “incompatible with life.” Advised to terminate the pregnancy, the Smiths chose instead to carry this child and allow room for a miracle. That miracle came the day they met Audrey Caroline and got the chance to love her for the precious two-and-a-half hours she lived on earth. Upon receiving the original diagnosis, Angie started a blog (Bring the Rain) to keep family and friends informed of their journey. Soon, the site exploded in popularity, connecting with thousands who were either experiencing their own heartbreaking situations or simply curious about how God could carry someone through something so tragic. I Will Carry You tells the powerful story of a parent losing her child, interwoven with the biblical story of Lazarus to help those who mourn to still have hope—to find grace and peace in the sacred dance of grief and joy.
224 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2010
103 people are currently reading
5617 people want to read
About the author
Angie Smith
9 books299 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
This is Angie^^Smith, where ^=space.
About the Author
Smith is an author, blogger, wife (of Todd Smith, lead singer of the hit Christian contemporary group Selah) and speaker. Many people have connected with her through her transparent, warm, witty writing about the life experiences Smith writes about. Her training is in psychology (a Master’s degree from Vanderbilt University in Developmental Psychology), and her blog gives her the opportunity to combine her two greatest passions: helping to heal people’s hearts and writing. Her recent books include "What Women Fear: Walking in Faith That Transforms" (2011) and "I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy" (2010).
This is Angie^^Smith, where ^=space.
About the Author
Smith is an author, blogger, wife (of Todd Smith, lead singer of the hit Christian contemporary group Selah) and speaker. Many people have connected with her through her transparent, warm, witty writing about the life experiences Smith writes about. Her training is in psychology (a Master’s degree from Vanderbilt University in Developmental Psychology), and her blog gives her the opportunity to combine her two greatest passions: helping to heal people’s hearts and writing. Her recent books include "What Women Fear: Walking in Faith That Transforms" (2011) and "I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy" (2010).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 308 reviews
January 17, 2013
A friend of mine gave me this book to read a week after I found about my miscarriage at 19 weeks, completely by surprise. My husband and I went in for a specialist appointment because the doctors believed there was a significant chance our baby would have Down Syndrome. When I got to the appointment the odds were 1/1000 based on my age, but 1/19 based on my blood work. When the doctor began the ultrasound it wasn't more than two minutes in when she turned off the machine and told us our baby was deceased and had been for 2 weeks. I had no signs of miscarriage. I went into delivery that night to my beautiful daughter who weighed 0.6lbs. We drove her in a little box to a funeral home in complete silence the next morning. This book has been like healing balm to my heart sores. Angie being so open about her story has created a chain affect of other women being open. We are not meant to walk life alone. Thank you Angie for your raw thoughts, photographs, and your beautiful song with the rest of the world. May God continue to grant you peace knowing Audrey is with our perfect loving Father. I think of my daughter Jaelyn Marie and Audrey playing together in Heaven :)
June 16, 2010
I loved reading this book and I think I learned a great deal about personal strength by following Angie Smith's story. I discovered her blog about a year and a half ago and I just had to go back and read it from the beginning. Her story had a strange effect on me and it was surprising to me. I'm not a Christian -- if I have to, I describe myself as an Agnostic, but the truth is, I have no idea what I am. Sometimes I am led to God, other times, I doubt that he exists. I do know, however, that I was very inspired by Angie's hope and faith in God throughout her pregancy with Audrey and in the time following Audrey's passing. It made me more interested in the power of prayer and the true definition of God.
I admire Angie a great deal after learning her story. In addition to helping me understand a parent's grief process after losing a child, Angie's book helped me to be more open to understanding Christianity. Even though Audrey's life was short, she had a purpose, and I feel for Angie and her family every day. This is definitely a good read to help you understand parental grief and how positivity, the power of prayer, and community can help bring a person through it.
I admire Angie a great deal after learning her story. In addition to helping me understand a parent's grief process after losing a child, Angie's book helped me to be more open to understanding Christianity. Even though Audrey's life was short, she had a purpose, and I feel for Angie and her family every day. This is definitely a good read to help you understand parental grief and how positivity, the power of prayer, and community can help bring a person through it.
May 18, 2010
This is not the type of book I would normally choose to read because I am far more likely to choose fiction over non-fiction. I started this book because there was a free e-book edition of it available at Barnes & Noble and I was able to load it onto my iPod to read while waiting to pick my kids up from school. I finished this book because it was compelling and applicable to my life, even though I have never walked through circumstances remotely like those the author recounts.
I learned a lot from this book about how to engage in experiencing grief instead of numbing myself to it. I learned how to talk to others who are grieving and gained insight into what it's like to cling to your faith when everything else around you is falling apart right in front of your eyes.
As the subtitle indicates, this book is not a lighthearted read, but Smith writes about one of the most gut-wrenching experiences possible - losing a child - with compassion, authenticity and honesty. Her quiet, confident voice that bore its grief wisely but openly made it possible for me to read this book.
I found myself thinking about women I know who have lost a child and also was reminded that we all walk through valleys where we are asked to walk even when we can barely see to put one foot in front of the other. Reading Angie's story made me want to be brave to walk where I am called to walk. It made me want to get out of the corner and let myself be led to a place of wholeness.
If you've experienced loss of any kind, I recommend this book. You'll find Smith's voice gentle and full of compassion, never judgment. You'll be encouraged and uplifted. In short, you'll be glad you took the time to read this book.
I learned a lot from this book about how to engage in experiencing grief instead of numbing myself to it. I learned how to talk to others who are grieving and gained insight into what it's like to cling to your faith when everything else around you is falling apart right in front of your eyes.
As the subtitle indicates, this book is not a lighthearted read, but Smith writes about one of the most gut-wrenching experiences possible - losing a child - with compassion, authenticity and honesty. Her quiet, confident voice that bore its grief wisely but openly made it possible for me to read this book.
I found myself thinking about women I know who have lost a child and also was reminded that we all walk through valleys where we are asked to walk even when we can barely see to put one foot in front of the other. Reading Angie's story made me want to be brave to walk where I am called to walk. It made me want to get out of the corner and let myself be led to a place of wholeness.
If you've experienced loss of any kind, I recommend this book. You'll find Smith's voice gentle and full of compassion, never judgment. You'll be encouraged and uplifted. In short, you'll be glad you took the time to read this book.
March 20, 2013
My son, Maddox, was stillborn on December 13, 2011, when I was 39 weeks pregnant. His death was unexpected and is still unexplained, even after an autopsy. Losing our son was the most devastating event of my and my husband's marriage, but it is also one that has been a catalyst for growth toward each other and more importantly, closer intimacy with God. I have blogged about our (mostly my) grief experience at http://mommytomaddox.blogspot.com/. If I could write a book about our grief and the impact losing Maddox has had on our walk with the Lord and our life together, I would want it to be this book. I am so grateful for Angie's strength, insight and example. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has lost a child or who may want to understand how to support a parent who has lost a child. Thank you to my sweet friend, Hannah diCicco, for purchasing this book for me in the months immediately after I lost Maddox.
September 23, 2011
I read this book as a recommendation after giving birth to a stillborn child earlier this year. She shares her amazing story of courage and strength through a time that could be extremely depressing and discouraging. I could relate so much with her story, especially the feelings after her baby was born and died. The lonely feeling is oftentimes crippling. I have chose this as my book of choice for a book club so that others might better understand me and why I've changed so much. The experience was life changing, beyond anything I can ever explain. IT is my hope that Angie's feelings will help others better understand infant loss and not be so hush-hush about it. It happens, it's real, it hurts. Great story, Angie. Thanks for sharing!
August 16, 2012
This story is very touching and I can relate, having a similar experience with my 3rd pregnancy. Benjamin lived 20 hours and I was truly broken when he died much like Angie Smith. While I really like this book I did feel a bit hit over the head with the religious aspect of the writing.
December 1, 2014
A very touching and heartbreaking story of a family whose lives have changed and been broken by this severe trial. Well-written. Scriptures. Have a tissue box nearby when you read this because if you aren't touched by what happen to them, you might need to be broken as well.
June 29, 2017
Highly recommend for anyone walking through grief or watching someone you love go through it. Sobbed through several chapters. It's raw and beautiful.
June 30, 2019
😭😭😭OKAY😭😭😭♥️♥️♥️
April 27, 2010
MY REVIEW:
Grab a box of tissues.
For those who followed Angie Smith and the story of Audrey unfold on her blog this book feels like a chat with Angie over a nice warm drink. And for those who are new to the Smith's dance with joy and grief you will quickly fall in love with this family and their testimony.
Angie puts into words the thoughts and emotions of a mother who clings to hope while grieving, lives life fully while preparing for the worst, and who begs God for a miracle all the while praising Him no matter what. I Will Carry You is the story of the life of Audrey and the huge impact this small little girl had on her family and on the world. It will leave you counting your blessings, living with abandon, and celebrating life - no matter how long or how short.
I was touched by Angie's honest and vulnerability with her readers and her simple, yet profound, explanations of what her dance was and continues to be like. I have been touched by the music of Selah for years and since 2008 even more so with the music being backed up by authentic lives. Though their road has not been easy, they have blessed many lives through their tears and their joy in the time of great grief.
Whether you are a Mom or not, this book will have you crying and rejoicing all at the same time. Both Angie's writing and Todd's chapter from a man's perspective will be an encouragement in your life.
* * * * *
Thank you to B&H Publishing Group for providing the review copy.
Grab a box of tissues.
For those who followed Angie Smith and the story of Audrey unfold on her blog this book feels like a chat with Angie over a nice warm drink. And for those who are new to the Smith's dance with joy and grief you will quickly fall in love with this family and their testimony.
Angie puts into words the thoughts and emotions of a mother who clings to hope while grieving, lives life fully while preparing for the worst, and who begs God for a miracle all the while praising Him no matter what. I Will Carry You is the story of the life of Audrey and the huge impact this small little girl had on her family and on the world. It will leave you counting your blessings, living with abandon, and celebrating life - no matter how long or how short.
I was touched by Angie's honest and vulnerability with her readers and her simple, yet profound, explanations of what her dance was and continues to be like. I have been touched by the music of Selah for years and since 2008 even more so with the music being backed up by authentic lives. Though their road has not been easy, they have blessed many lives through their tears and their joy in the time of great grief.
Whether you are a Mom or not, this book will have you crying and rejoicing all at the same time. Both Angie's writing and Todd's chapter from a man's perspective will be an encouragement in your life.
* * * * *
Thank you to B&H Publishing Group for providing the review copy.
May 30, 2010
Books about faith and loss, particularly infant loss, seem to polarize between those who see the loss as something God didn't or couldn't cause and those who see loss as God's will and doing. I'd say this book is most definitely one of the latter, but I think for those struggling with faith after loss, it will provide much more comfort than the usual "God's will, get happy with it" readings you often find. Smith clearly sees God has having a purpose somewhere, somehow in loss, and she gracefully uses the story of Lazarus to make her points. However, she never steps back from how incredibly painful it is to lose an infant. She makes it clear that no matter how strong a person's faith is, loss of a child is a wound that stays with you and changes you in ways that can't be imagined. Many (too many) parents I've met have gotten the message that, if their faith were stronger, they would be okay with their loss-- and I think this book will go far to meet those people where they are. She highlights the grace that one may find in loss, but it's clear that loss can't be tied up in a pretty package and that even someone with her strength in faith is hit hard with questions unanswerable to us now. I think it would also be a great resource for friends and family who know someone facing loss, to help understand the emotions and the painful details their loved one faces.
June 5, 2012
Someone gave me this book when I found out that the baby girl that I was expecting had a chromosomal disorder that was not compatible with life. If you or someone you know is facing a diagnosis similar to this this is an excellent read. Angie Smith chronicles her journey of carrying her daughter Audrey to term dispute the fact that she was told that Audrey would not survive. It is wonderfully honest and heartfelt. I read it twice once during my pregnancy and again after my baby died. I can not even begin to tell you how much it helped me. It was a life saver.
May 10, 2011
Overly preached, could have been great if it was less sermon and more realism. I felt sorry for her, but I couldn't really connect to her with out the overly religious tone. When it was heartfelt is was good. There just wasn't enough of it.
August 13, 2014
Don't read this in public as you will likely cry lots..... That being said, a wonderful book that transparently discusses the pains of losing a child. Great if you have experienced a loss or know someone who has. Love the advice on how to walk beside those suffering in this way.
July 17, 2014
Prepare to cry. Beautiful but heart breaking story of loss and faith. My heart hurt for her.
April 1, 2022
This book was recommended to me after my husband and I learned, halfway through our pregnancy, that our daughter would not be able to survive long past birth. This book took the words right out of my mouth in the months we carried our daughter and now in the months after her death (much more beautifully than I could I have ever written). Angie is an incredible writer and her honesty and dependence on the Lord during something so painful, encouraged me more than I can say. I’m so thankful to have found this book. I think it’s worth reading regardless of your story!
July 1, 2018
Much more well written than I’d expected. Personal yet applicable beyond the author’s experience. The verses at the end of each chapter—one highlighting grief, the other joy—were particularly effective at solidifying her theme. This book was of immense comfort to me despite the tears it often elicited.
March 15, 2023
It was amazing. I would encourage everyone to read this even if you have not walked through a similar journey.
Having walked through 2 miscarriages I was able to relate in a small way. Though When I first chose to read this book, I almost felt invalid in my grief. Though I no longer struggle much with my miscarriage grief reading through how Angela praised God through it all was encouraging.
Everyone’s journey and story are different, just as everyone grieves differently. I loved the openness, rawness and the view point from the husband.
Having walked through 2 miscarriages I was able to relate in a small way. Though When I first chose to read this book, I almost felt invalid in my grief. Though I no longer struggle much with my miscarriage grief reading through how Angela praised God through it all was encouraging.
Everyone’s journey and story are different, just as everyone grieves differently. I loved the openness, rawness and the view point from the husband.
May 17, 2022
This book had been sitting on my shelf for over three years now . A friend bought it for me after my son was stillborn in 2018. Much like the author, I knew beforehand that my son had a fatal condition and would not survive. This story powerfully resonated with me and captured much of what I felt and continue to feel with this dance of joy and grief. It provides much hope for families going through the same journey .
May 25, 2022
While I’m devastated about the events that led me to read this book, I can say with peace in my heart it was a gift from the Lord. This book met me where I am and offered reassurance about who God is.
December 27, 2020
Easily one of the best books I have read this year. Deep and full of support and encouragement for women and families suffering the loss of a child. Truly beautiful.
July 21, 2012
"As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things" (Ecclesiastes 11:5).
"We do not choose suffering simply because we are told to, but because the one who tells us to describes it as the path to everlasting joy" (John Piper, 59).
"Joy in affliction is rooted in the hope of resurrection, but our experience of suffering also deepens the root of that hope" (John Piper, 75).
"Yet she kept discovering in the places of deepest aloneness and emptiness the God who was with her, for her. She discovered Christ's presence from the inside out, seeing what He sees as He sees it. She now has a sense of what the world looks like from a cross. She knows the darkness of the inside of a grave. And she knows, more and more, the brightness of a new day when the world is glimpsed as from a tomb, it's stone rolled away" (Mark Buchanan, 111).
"I am standing on the seashore. A ship spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the ocean. I stand watching her until she fades on the horizon and someone at my side says, 'She is gone.' Gone where? The loss of sight is in me, not in her. Just at the moment when someone says, 'She is gone,' there are others who are watching her coming. Other voices take up the glad shout, 'Here she comes,' and that is dying" (Henry Scott Holland, 139).
"Sorrow is one of the things that are lent, not given./A thing that is lent may be taken away;/a thing that is given is not taken away./Joy is given;/sorrow is lent./We are not our own,/we are bought with a price . . ./[Our sorrow] is lent us for just a little while/that we may use it for eternal purposes./Then it will be taken away/and everlasting joy will be/our Father's gift to us,/and the Lord God will wipe away/all the tears from off all faces" (Amy Carmichael, 163).
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3).
". . . my whole frame is but a shadow" (Job 17:7b).
"I will go to him, but he will not return to me" (2 Samuel 12:23).
" . . . [Sorrow and Joy] became conscious of a form standing beside them; dimly seen, but of a kingly Presence, and a great and holy awe stole over them as they sank on their knees before Him./'I see Him as the King of Joy,' whispered Sorrow, 'for on His head are many crowns, and the nail prints in His hands and feet are the scars of a great victory. Before Him all my sorrow is melting away into deathless love and gladness, and I give myself to Him forever.'/'Nay, Sorrow,' said Joy softly, 'but I see Him as the King of Sorrow, and the crown on His head is a crown of thorns, and the nail prints in His hands and feet are the scars of great agony. I too give myself to HIm forever, for sorrow with Him must be sweeter than any joy I have ever known.'/'Then we are one in Him,' they cried in gladness, 'for none but He could unite Joy and Sorrow" (183, Mrs. Charles E. Cowman, Streams in the Desert, 316-18).
"Men, if there is one thing you need to listen to, it's this. If you are in a situation similar to what we faced losing Audrey and your wife asks you to choose what she needs over what you think is best, go with her. Even it requires you to make some difficult choices, listen to her. Angie asked me to do some big things. It wasn't that one of us was right and the other was wrong. Both of us were right, but we could only choose one. I chose to go with my own plan; only after other people gave me counsel did I change my mind. That really put a gap between Angie and me. I listened to them, but not to her. My intentions were good, but my wife needed to know she could count on me when she asked" (196).
www.griefshare.org
Sittser, Jerry. A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss.
Wunnenberg, Kathe. Grieving the Child I Never Knew.
"We do not choose suffering simply because we are told to, but because the one who tells us to describes it as the path to everlasting joy" (John Piper, 59).
"Joy in affliction is rooted in the hope of resurrection, but our experience of suffering also deepens the root of that hope" (John Piper, 75).
"Yet she kept discovering in the places of deepest aloneness and emptiness the God who was with her, for her. She discovered Christ's presence from the inside out, seeing what He sees as He sees it. She now has a sense of what the world looks like from a cross. She knows the darkness of the inside of a grave. And she knows, more and more, the brightness of a new day when the world is glimpsed as from a tomb, it's stone rolled away" (Mark Buchanan, 111).
"I am standing on the seashore. A ship spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the ocean. I stand watching her until she fades on the horizon and someone at my side says, 'She is gone.' Gone where? The loss of sight is in me, not in her. Just at the moment when someone says, 'She is gone,' there are others who are watching her coming. Other voices take up the glad shout, 'Here she comes,' and that is dying" (Henry Scott Holland, 139).
"Sorrow is one of the things that are lent, not given./A thing that is lent may be taken away;/a thing that is given is not taken away./Joy is given;/sorrow is lent./We are not our own,/we are bought with a price . . ./[Our sorrow] is lent us for just a little while/that we may use it for eternal purposes./Then it will be taken away/and everlasting joy will be/our Father's gift to us,/and the Lord God will wipe away/all the tears from off all faces" (Amy Carmichael, 163).
"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3).
". . . my whole frame is but a shadow" (Job 17:7b).
"I will go to him, but he will not return to me" (2 Samuel 12:23).
" . . . [Sorrow and Joy] became conscious of a form standing beside them; dimly seen, but of a kingly Presence, and a great and holy awe stole over them as they sank on their knees before Him./'I see Him as the King of Joy,' whispered Sorrow, 'for on His head are many crowns, and the nail prints in His hands and feet are the scars of a great victory. Before Him all my sorrow is melting away into deathless love and gladness, and I give myself to Him forever.'/'Nay, Sorrow,' said Joy softly, 'but I see Him as the King of Sorrow, and the crown on His head is a crown of thorns, and the nail prints in His hands and feet are the scars of great agony. I too give myself to HIm forever, for sorrow with Him must be sweeter than any joy I have ever known.'/'Then we are one in Him,' they cried in gladness, 'for none but He could unite Joy and Sorrow" (183, Mrs. Charles E. Cowman, Streams in the Desert, 316-18).
"Men, if there is one thing you need to listen to, it's this. If you are in a situation similar to what we faced losing Audrey and your wife asks you to choose what she needs over what you think is best, go with her. Even it requires you to make some difficult choices, listen to her. Angie asked me to do some big things. It wasn't that one of us was right and the other was wrong. Both of us were right, but we could only choose one. I chose to go with my own plan; only after other people gave me counsel did I change my mind. That really put a gap between Angie and me. I listened to them, but not to her. My intentions were good, but my wife needed to know she could count on me when she asked" (196).
www.griefshare.org
Sittser, Jerry. A Grace Disguised: How the Soul Grows Through Loss.
Wunnenberg, Kathe. Grieving the Child I Never Knew.
June 18, 2017
First of all, I've never started a 200 page book one day and finished it the next that was not written by J.K. Rowling. But I couldn't put this one down. To say it was an easy read would be misleading. Read with your tissues close at hand. But Angie shares her story and her struggles with grief and still praising the Lord with such grace and honesty.
I picked up this book 3 days ago with the intention of reading it and deciding whether or not to pass it on to grieving friends and church members I will encounter (I am a pastor's wife and sadly have seen a good bit of children lost). However, I could never have known that a sweet couple in our church had to deliver their full term son YESTERDAY after a sudden loss in utero. I will be passing the book on to her friend tomorrow and I pray she will have the strength to read it soon. So yes, I would definitely recommend this to those struggling with grief and loss. I especially appreciated the chapter where Angie's husband Todd shared his grief experience, which was different from hers. He advises men on how they can support their wives as they grieve in a very different way. Angie also shares helpful tips for helping other children deal with loss as well.
This book is great for those experiencing loss (especially that of a child), those walking through the loss with them, and really anyone. We will all experience intense loss at one time or another. I pray that I will be able to cling to my faith in the goodness of my Father in heaven when I do.
I picked up this book 3 days ago with the intention of reading it and deciding whether or not to pass it on to grieving friends and church members I will encounter (I am a pastor's wife and sadly have seen a good bit of children lost). However, I could never have known that a sweet couple in our church had to deliver their full term son YESTERDAY after a sudden loss in utero. I will be passing the book on to her friend tomorrow and I pray she will have the strength to read it soon. So yes, I would definitely recommend this to those struggling with grief and loss. I especially appreciated the chapter where Angie's husband Todd shared his grief experience, which was different from hers. He advises men on how they can support their wives as they grieve in a very different way. Angie also shares helpful tips for helping other children deal with loss as well.
This book is great for those experiencing loss (especially that of a child), those walking through the loss with them, and really anyone. We will all experience intense loss at one time or another. I pray that I will be able to cling to my faith in the goodness of my Father in heaven when I do.
July 7, 2017
I found this book on Amazon after going through a second trimester miscarriage. I was looking for a book that would answer all the questions I was asking.
This is not that book. It's a better one.
In telling her daughter Audrey's story, Angie Smith does ask all the questions. Why is this happening? Where is God? Why didn't he fix it? Some of those questions can be answered here and now - God is with you in your pain, wanting you to bring it to him - but some of them cannot be answered now. It is in those questions that the believer must exercise faith.
Even now, Lord.
Smith is raw and honest in telling their story. This book is painful to read. You should read it anyway. If you've lost a child, or if you've suffered deeply in some other way, read it as a reminder from someone's who has been there that our God is still good. If you want to love and care for someone who has or is suffering deeply, read it to gain a better understanding of what they are going through and need (Smith devotes a whole chapter at the end of the book to those who can carry someone else's burden). If you are a pastor, someone who might someday find themselves walking the halls of a hospital and praying or talking with someone who is walking through deep pain and suffering, read it.
This is not that book. It's a better one.
In telling her daughter Audrey's story, Angie Smith does ask all the questions. Why is this happening? Where is God? Why didn't he fix it? Some of those questions can be answered here and now - God is with you in your pain, wanting you to bring it to him - but some of them cannot be answered now. It is in those questions that the believer must exercise faith.
Even now, Lord.
Smith is raw and honest in telling their story. This book is painful to read. You should read it anyway. If you've lost a child, or if you've suffered deeply in some other way, read it as a reminder from someone's who has been there that our God is still good. If you want to love and care for someone who has or is suffering deeply, read it to gain a better understanding of what they are going through and need (Smith devotes a whole chapter at the end of the book to those who can carry someone else's burden). If you are a pastor, someone who might someday find themselves walking the halls of a hospital and praying or talking with someone who is walking through deep pain and suffering, read it.
February 17, 2014
This book was really good and I appreciated the author's authenticity and insights. There is a line in the book where she says that at one point she was not "strong enough yet to be weak." And, for me, that hits the nail on the head as far as who should read this book. If you have lost a child in the womb or at a young age, I think it *could* be a healing thing to share in this other mama's story of the same IF you are to the point of being strong enough to be weak. It is very hard to read and I "ugly cried" throughout. She shares her experiences very openly and in great detail. She is gentle but detailed. So, I'm not sure I would recommend this outright to someone in the middle of grief per se. Reading her experiences would no doubt take you back in a very real way to your own, so before you read it, make sure you are strong enough to be weak in this way. It is a gorgeous story of one mama leaning in to God's love during the worst trial of her life and offers good tips for parenting young children through the loss of a sibling. Her insights from Scripture are wonderful and healing.
November 2, 2015
I thought this was a very sentimental and heartbreaking song. I am familiar with Selah, the band has always strengthened my faith with God and their songs always spoke to me. To endure such a tragic loss is very sad, but I like how the author talked about how she got through the toughest times. The scriptures that accompanied the book was very touching, it was great to see her triumph through the dark days. I think this was one of those memorable losses about how faith plays a role in getting through dark valleys.
I will recommend this book to anyone, it really took me by a pleasant surprise.
I will recommend this book to anyone, it really took me by a pleasant surprise.
May 17, 2010
Very touching story of a mom that carries a baby destined to die soon after birth. God's plan is perfect, even if it is painful. This mom writes from her heart and her enormous faith has led her to start a blog ministry to tell her story and show that life does go on. Search "Bring the Rain" on blogger.
May 27, 2011
I ate this book up due to this family facing the exact diagnosis we are facing. It was written by the wife and while I understood everything she was going through, it was the husband's chapter that I identified with the most. It has really helped me gain a new perspective on what I fear most--delivery day. I am finally able to seek the joy in this journey.
May 26, 2010
Just what I need after Kara Faith went to heaven. She said a lot of things I have been feeling and afraid to admit... Amazing encouragement in this book, but not heavy reading. When you are mourning you don't need that anyway.
August 18, 2012
A tear-jerker...it was interesting to read how the family dealt with such a loss with twin 5 year olds and a two year old. While I appreciated the religious context, there was sometimes more of that than of the family's story.
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